Smyrne Bornabat 1873

Editor: Today we are looking at “Smyrne Bornabat” an 1873 oil painting by Camille Corot, who's known for working "en plein air." The hazy light and earthy tones create a very dreamlike atmosphere. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Dreamlike is spot on, and that, for me, is Corot's signature. It's like he’s dipped his brush in a memory rather than just paint. Notice how the landscape melts into this almost ethereal light, softening every edge? I often wonder if it mirrors his internal landscape more than a literal place. Does it spark a specific emotion in you? Editor: Definitely a sense of peace, maybe a touch of melancholy? The figures are small, almost swallowed by the vastness of the scene. Curator: Ah, melancholy, the companion of beauty, perhaps? I think you nailed it! They’re placed perfectly to give us a sense of scale and invite us into their world. And isn't that what art is about – invitation, feeling, connection? Look at how the muted palette contributes to this too... almost whispered colours. Do you find the Impressionist label a little restrictive when thinking about his work? Editor: That’s an interesting question! Yes, I think it's often hard to categorise his landscapes given the style encompasses aspects of earlier styles. The haziness, I mean, evokes Romanticism for me more so than sharp, defined brushstrokes. Curator: Precisely! He really sat right on the cusp didn’t he. For me his atmospheric perspective is so poignant because you are seeing how the eye and mind meet nature! I reckon art is often about a bit of blurry uncertainty - not being too definitive. It’s how the beauty gets in. What do you reckon? Editor: I agree wholeheartedly! This has really changed how I’ll look at Corot from now on. Curator: Splendid! Now go forth and get delightfully lost in some more hazy landscapes.